Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-04-29

tncy nave tnclr sacred lakes or wells
In one of his rambles, he says; "I cam
upon the small and picturesque lake O
Ikeougoun, which lies in the mount
aims to the north of San -ghin-dalai, an
is held in vcneration. They hav
erected small wooden temple on tn
shore, and here they come TO sacrifice
offering up milk, butter, and tho fat o
animals, which they burn on the it'll,
altars. The large rock in the lake i
with them n sacred stone, on which
some rude figures are traced; and oil
the bank opposite they place rods will
small silk flags, having inscriptions
printed on them In Northern Asia,
| writes Sir John Lubbock, in his "Origir
of Civilization" the Tunguses and
Votyaks worship various springs; and
in the tenth century u schism took
place in Persia among the Armcnians,
one party being accused of dcspising
the holy well of Vagarschiebat. Once
more, in North Mexico, near the thirty.
fifth parallel, Lieutenant Whipple
found spring which from time immc-
mortal chad been held sacred to the
rain-god." Some idea of the respect
paid to this spring may be gathered
from the fact that no animal may drink
of its waters, and it must be annually
clcnnsod "with ancient vases, which,
having been transmitted from genera
ton to generation by the caciqucs,
are then placed on the walls,
never to be removed" Dr. Bell also
in the chronological Journal informs us
that in New Mexico, not far from Zuni,
there is sacred spring about eight feet
in diameter, walled round with stones,
of which neither men nor cattle may
drink. Once year, the cacique and
his attendants perform certain religious
rites at this spring, offerings being pre-
scnted to it.
But turning to the wells of our own
country, we find many curious practices
kept up in the western counties. Thus,
in Cornwall, near Penzance, there is
the far-famed well of st. Madron,
around which so much legendary lore
has clustered According to an old
piece of advice, the visitor to this
locality is thus admonished:
Plunge thy right hand in ST. Madron's spring.
II true to its troth be the palm you bring:
But IL n false digit thy fingers bear,
Lay them at once on the burning share.
In this well may be found, as in many
others, the pins which have been fire.
quetly dropped by young women
anxious of ascertaining ''when thoy
were to be married." Il once wit
nessed," says Mr.. Hunt, in his Popular
Romanccs of the West of England"
"thewhole ceremony performed by n
group of beautiful girls, who had walked
on aMay morning from Penzance. Two
pieces of straw, about an inch long
each, were crossed, and the pin run
through them. This cross was
then dropped into the water,
and the rising bubbles
counted rs they marked the
number of years which would pass ere
The arrival of the happy day. This
practice also prevailed amongst the
visitors to the well at the foot of Mona
cuddlc grove, near st. Austell." Rags
and other votive offerings are occa-
;ionally suspended around many of
our country wells; and Mr.. Couch tells
rs how he observed at Madron well
he custom of hanging rags on the
horns which grew in the inclosure.
Likewise, on Palm Sunday. Carew
writes how the people were in the hab-
t of resorting to the we'll sacred to
''Our Lady of Nants," with cross of
palm. After making the clergyman a
present, they were allowed to throw
.he cross into the water; if it swan,
,hc thrower was to outlve the year; if
t, unfortunately sank, he was to die
within that time.
OF other Cornish wishing wells may
De mentioned that mt Gulval, which is
hus described in Gilbert's "Parochial
History of Cornwall'': ITO this place
numbers of people, time out of mind,
lave resorted for pleasure and profit
# their health, rs the crcdulous coun-
ry people do in these days, not only
o drink the waters thereof, but to in
uire after the life or death of their
bsent friends; where, being arrived,
hey demanded the question at the well
whether such person by name be liv-
ng, in health, sick. or dead. If the
arty be living and in health, the still
uict water of the well-pit, as soon as
he question is put, will instantly bub-
lie or boil up rs pot; but if it remain
uiet, it is an Indication that the party
; dead" A formula used at certain
+ the wishing wells of the West of
,ngland by young ladies, when sum-
hing up the qualifications they wish
} find in their future husbands, is thus:
husband ST. Catherine:
handsome one, st. Catherine:
A rich one, ST. Catherine;
A nice one, st. Catherine;
And soon, st. Catherine. |
We may mention here that on par
cular day in the year, the young
omen of Abbotsbury were formerly in
le habit of visiting the little Norman
lapel of st. Catherine Mt Milton
bbey, Dorset, where they made use
the above rhyme. A correspondent
Notes and Queries says this appeal to
!. Catherine is somewhat singular, MS
4 the Continent she is generally con-
dered the special patroness of spin
ers, an old maid being said to "coiffer
!. Catherine.
Referring also to the pins used in the
ishing wells of Cornwall, it should be
Dted that these are almost universal
employed in different parts of the
'untry. Thus, throughout the north
England we have wishing wells
here the passer-by may breathe his
ish, ''and may rest assured of its
llilment if he only dropa crooked pin
to the water" The worm-well at
lmbton is one of these, writes Mr.
anderson. in his "Folk-lore of the
orthern Counties" There is another
Westmorland; and another at
'ooler, in Northumberland OF this